Roger Milla tipped as FECAFOOT next president

Roger Milla has been tipped as favorite among fifteen candidates who are vying for the post of President of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT. The organisation’s election, billed for November 30 this year, is promising fireworks owing to the dynamism of the candidates.

Milla, is, however, considered by observers as favourite given that his candidacy is allegedly being backed by President Biya.

Milla’s vetting into the roll call of candidates vying for the FECAFOOT Presidency came as the former national team striker began to receive calls from Supporters Association urging him to run for the office. They actually launched a media campaign to lobby him to submit his candidacy for the race.

Besides the media campaign, the President of the association, is reported to have visited stakeholders at the national and regional levels to convince them to persuade Milla to run for president of FECAFOOT. The association advances the argument that Milla as a former national team player besides his many achievements has experience that should make him more qualified to handle football issues in the country.

The Milla supporters are pointing to examples - the likes of FIFA president, UEFA president, the president of the national football federation of Zambia among other former footballers who have recorded remarkable successes in football administration after playing for their various countries.

Roger Milla who is also a Roving Ambassador, reportedly told groups and individuals calling on him to join the FECAFOOT presidency race, that he would not do so until he gets his boss’s backing (referring to Biya).

Apparently based on the way politics and administration are interwoven in Cameroon, pundits say most of the candidates who were equally backed by big-wheels in the Biya regime might simply have to deal with the fact that CPDM barons will not challenge the authority of the president, given what might befall them if his candidate, Milla, loses. Biya is expected to name a new government in a near future, and history has proven that ministers are appointed based on their loyalty to Biya and popularity in the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the seventeen candidates running for the federation’s top job include three former ministers, retired footballers, politicians and other professionals.

Amongst their ranks include; Bernard Messengué Avom, Former Minister of Public Works. He hails from the Centre region; Alioum Aladji Hamadou, he is said to be backed by the current President Of The National Olympic Committee, Kalkaba Malbourne; Michel Zoah, Former Minister of Sports; Thierry Augustin Edzoa, Former Minister of Sports; Antoine Essomba Eyenga, purportedly backed by Mbarga Mboa; Francis Mveng, he is alleged to be the candidate of the Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office, Louis Paul Motaze; Joseph Antoine Bell, former Indomitable Lions’ goalkeeper; Roger Milla Indomitable Lions’ striker, Jean Marie Abouna, reportedly the candidate of the President of the FECAFOOT Normalisation Committee, Joseph Owona; Joseph Feutcheu, Abdouraman Hamadou, Sidiki Tombi à Roko, Mikado Eboa Elamé, Célestin Effa Ndene, Luc Assamba, allegedly the first choice Of Special Duties Minister at the Presidency in Charge of Sports, Philippe Mbarga Mboa.

John Begheni Ndeh, the only anglophone who is said to be capable of contesting the election did not declare his candidature.

Ndeh, who was assistant president of FECAFOOT became interim president for few months after Iya Mohammed was arrested.

Given that he has been in the house for long and has mastered it well, Ndeh was the only anglophone that was looked upon to represent Anglos in the contest.